My Day from The Memory Box on Vimeo.

More stories about Newcastle can be found on the Memory Box website. You can also download the Memory Box app from iTunes.

The Memory Box was produced by Flo-culture in partnership with Newcastle Libraries and Newcastle Adult Learning Services. The creation of the application by Flo-culture has been financed by the Skills Funding Agency through the Community Learning Innovation Fund managed by NIACE.

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‘Writing North East: Coalfields and Quaysides’ is a new exhibition at City Library which explores the representation of place in North East literature. Unseen material from local authors, including David Almond and Linda France, will be showcased alongside literary jewels from the British Library. Members of the Skimstone Young Artist Collective have created ‘Bewick’s Ark’ especially for the exhibition. Share your views and favourite North East authors or locations on Twitter using #writingNE.

Visit on level 6 of City Library until 31 July 2013.

  In partnership with the British Library and the Paul Hamlyn Foundation.

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Family history can become addictive and at Newcastle Libraries it’s also free!

You don’t need to sign up for expensive online websites. Visit any of our libraries and you can get immediate access to Ancestry and Find my Past. Both websites have access to a huge range of genealogical collections including births, marriages and deaths, census records, passenger lists and military records. Records are available from all over the world and they’re constantly being expanded. If you’ve never tried it before and would like some advice book a free internet taster session with one of our staff by phoning 0191 2774100.

You can also visit our heritage centre at the City Library to find more local and family history records. As well as being one of only seven regional centres for the GRO births deaths and marriages, we also hold other records including the adoption index and full indexes of overseas life events dating back to 1761.

You can also search the largest newspaper collection in the region, with 69 titles dating from 1710 to the present day. Or you might want to access newspapers online, including gems like the Police Gazette.

We also hold regional parish registers, census records and voters lists, maps, over 100,000 photographs and a huge collection of material about the history of the region.

Visit your local library and start searching!

Kath Cassidy
Heritage Service Manager

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Step back in time and view nearly 1000 photographs from the newly digitised Lazlo Torday collection. The photographs show Newcastle during the 1960’s and 70’s and were originally bought by Newcastle Libraries from a local dealer in the 1980’s. Up until now the photographs have only been available to view in person by looking through the 100 albums or in the 16 boxes of colour transparencies held at City Library.

Laszlo Torday (1890-1975) was a Hungarian chemical engineer, who was also a keen and gifted amateur photographer. He arrived in Tynemouth in January 1940 and eventually moved to Jesmond. His photographs reflect his interest in the streets and people of Newcastle.

Kath Cassidy, City Libraries Heritage Manager, said: “The opportunity to digitise 1,000 images from the Torday Collection means that they can now be enjoyed by a much wider audience. The images provide a fascinating glimpse into the recent past, showing just how much has changed and what has remained the same. We’re keen to find out more about the people in the images. If you recognise anyone – please use the Flickr site to let us know.”

Visit the Torday Collection on Flickr.

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Are you aged 65 or over? Do you have interesting stories to tell of times gone by in Newcastle? If so, we would like to invite you to join our Memory Box project!

What is Memory Box?

‘Memory Box’ is a local history project in which older residents of the city work with a professional storyteller to recall and record their personal memories of life in Newcastle.

Voice recordings of the stories are combined with pictures to create a fascinating archive of how life used to be. The archive will become a valuable resource for anyone who is interested in the history of Newcastle during the last century. 

Where and when?

We aim to make the sessions sociable and fun, with refreshments provided. It will be a chance to meet new people and to hear their stories and to share your own. We will not make a charge for the workshops, but if you sign up, we ask you to commit to attending all 6 sessions, or as many as you can.

The sessions will be run by friendly staff who will guide you every step of the way.
You will not need to bring anything, just yourself and your memories!

High Heaton Library
Every  Monday, 10 am – 12.30pm from 29 October to 3 December

City Library
Every Tuesday, 10am – 12.30pm from 30 October to 4 December

City Library
Every Tuesday, 1pm – 3.30pm from 30 October to 4 December

Gosforth Library
Every Thursday, 1pm – 3.30pm from 8 November to 13 December

How do I book a place?

If you are in the library, speak to a member of staff or you can phone 0191 2774100 or email information@newcastle.gov.uk.

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Blaydon Races Centenary celebrations, 1962

Balmbra’s Music Hall exhibition
Friday 8 June – Tuesday 31 July
This exhibition celebrates Balmbra’s Music Hall and features a range of memorabilia from the library’s heritage collection as well as loans from a member of the public who worked at the venue.

Talk with Chris Goulding
Saturday 9 June, 1pm – 2pm, City Library
Local actor Chris Goulding will talk about the history of the Blaydon Races song. Book your free place in advance by phoning 0191 2774100.

Discover more Blaydon Races song celebratory events.

Tyne Bridge publishing have also released a new book about George Ridley who composed the famous song. The book is called ‘Gannin’ to the Blaydon Races: The Life and Times of George Ridley’ and is priced at £7.99. Pick up a copy at City Library or visit the Tyne Bridge Publishing website.

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Archive film footage recording one hundred years of North East sport will be showcased at two venues as part of this year’s Late Shows. The newly digitised footage will feature at both the Discovery Museum and Newcastle City Library on Saturday 19 May from 7pm – 10pm.

The one hour film show reels will run on continuous loop throughout the evening, drop in at any time.

The free film shows will include footage of Newcastle United taking on Sunderland AFC at St James’ Park in 1913, athletics and swimming competitions in Gateshead Stadium and Tynemouth open air pool in the 1960s, and an array of amateur films of sports and gala days across the North East.

Tynemouth Open Air Swimming Pool, 1963

A number of sporting events filmed as part of the centenary of the Blaydon Races in 1962 will also feature. There will also be regional television news stories from the 1970s and 1980s revisiting the more recent sporting past, examining the early careers of local heroes Brendan Foster and Paul Gascoigne.

This important archive film footage has been digitised as part of the Northern Region Film and Television Archive’s Fast Forward: North East Sport on Film project, and is the first in a series of film shows and events taking place across the region this summer.

For more information on the Fast Forward project contact the Northern Region Film and Television Archive at Teesside University on 01642 384022 or email enquires@nrfta.org.uk.

Fast Forward: North East on Film is supported by the National Lottery through the BFI and Creative England.

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To celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, Newcastle Libraries are offering a
range of royal themed events.

On Friday 1 June we will launch the ‘Sixty Glorious Years’ exhibition on the level 4 book gallery at City Library and there will also be archive film footage of the Queen’s first visit to the region in the early 1950s. Drop in any time between 12noon and 5pm to watch this.

The focus of our celebrations will be the Canny Jubilee gala event which will be held outdoors in Princess Square on Saturday 2 June from 1pm – 4pm. The outdoor gala, which has been supported by Marks and Spencer, will see vintage hair and make-up demonstrations, live music, Lindy Hop dancing and an interactive ‘you have been crowned’ photo booth! Work created by community groups in the run up to the celebrations will also be on show.

Following the street party there will be an historic royal fashion show by Julia Soares-McCormick from 6.30pm at City Library.

There are also Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations at our community libraries. View a full listing of Diamond Jubilee events at Newcastle Libraries.

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Newcastle Bridges, 1920s – Newcastle Libraries on Flickr

This May is Local History Month at Newcastle Libraries so we’ve got plenty in store at City Library and across our library branches. Find out about Newcastle’s Victorian villians, hook into the past at a talk on proggy mats or dig deeper into the history of Newcastle’s missing Roman wall…plus lots more!

The Local History Month brochure is available to download below. Book your place at an event by phoning 0191 2774100 or emailing information@newcaste.gov.uk.

Download the Local History Month 2012 brochure (PDF, 1.6MB)

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This year celebrates 200 years since the birth of Charles Dickens and the events below are part of our celebration of his life and work. To book a place at any of these events phone 0191 2774100 or ask a member of staff at City Library.

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If you’ve always wanted to research your family tree, but didn’t know where to begin, then this session is the place to start.  An absolute beginner’s guide to help you start piecing together your family history.

2:30pm – 4pm
Thursday 26 January 2012
City Library

To book your free place phone 0191 2774100, email information@newcastle.gov.uk or ask at your local library.

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Discover the social heritage of the Lower Ouseburn at five illustrated talks and workshops delivered by local historian Mike Greatbatch, entitled ‘Life, Leisure and Community in the Lower Ouseburn 1800 to 1940′.

All talks are from 2pm – 4pm on the days below.

Friday 20 January
1. ‘Roads, Streets, Quays and Yards; the Urbanisation of the Lower Ouseburn’

Friday 3 February
2. ‘Housing & Home Life’

Friday 17 February
3. ‘Pubs, Clubs & Leisure Activities’

Friday 2 March
4. ‘Churches, Missions & Burial Grounds’

Friday 16 March
5. ‘Documenting an Industrial Community’

Tickets are £4 per individual event (£15.00 if you book all five). To book a place phone 0191 2774100.

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This year’s Heritage Open Days take place from Thursday 8 – Sunday 11 September 2011. There are events planned across Tyne and Wear, giving you the opportunity to step into the past and find out more about 2000 years of North East history – free of charge! Newcastle Libraries are hosting the events below.

Charles Freer Andrews Lecture
6:30pm – 7:30pm
Thursday 8 September
City Library
The Anglican missionary and contemporary of Gandhi, Rev. C.F. Andrews, described as the ‘Conscience of the British Raj’, witnessed some of the most significant defining moments of India’s campaign for independence. This lecture illustrates the life of a remarkable man who recognised and acclaimed the true nature of the Sikhs and their role in that epic struggle.

Miners and Memorials
2pm – 3pm
Friday 9 September
City Library
From Pit Wheels to Winding Engines. Take a fascinating tour of the memorials that you can see in the North East, in a talk by Ken Smith.  Bringing our mining heritage to life. Places limited to 35.

Sport on Film
Friday 9 September
City Library
1pm – 4:30pm, turn up any time, no need to book.
A chance to view archive footage of sporting activity in the region. Including a W. I. Sports Day in the 1930’s and recreational activities at Saltwell Park in 1944. This is a drop in session at the City Library, all are welcome. Films kindly provided by the Northern Region Film and Television Archive (NRFTA).

Uppies and Downies
10:30am – 12:30pm
10 September 2011
City Library
Come along to this fascinating talk with Hugh Hornby to explore the history of ball games. In conjunction with Played in Tyne and Wear. Places limited to 50.

Book your free place at any event by phoning 0191 2774100, emailing information@newcastle.gov.uk or asking at your local library.

Find out about other Tyne and Wear Heritage Open Day events

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Played in Tyne and Wear
25 July – 4 December 2011

Explore the North East’s sporting heritage through our new exhibition, including sport on the Tyne, the Blaydon Races and of course Newcastle United Football Club.

We are displaying illustrations as well as items from our reference collection, including a wonderful early Fordyce map of the Tyne and a 1711 advert for a cockfight in the Newcastle Courant.

Pop up to level 6 of the City Library and take a look.

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Our Sporting Life Exhibition – A Celebration of Summerhill Bowling Club

7 July – 1 September
City Library

Hidden in the heart of Newcastle and active from 1916 to 2011, Summerhill Bowling Club was renowned for its welcoming atmosphere along with the quality of its greens.

Through bowls, badges, photographs and other memorabilia, this exhibition tells the story of Summerhill Bowling Club: its traditions, members and fascinating history that spans almost a century.

This exhibition forms part of Our Sporting Life, a programme of nationwide community exhibitions and a unique and ambitious celebration of British sport.

Find out more about the exhibition.

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Forthcoming events include an exhibition about the interwar artist, Byron Dawson, a talk about the history of one of Newcastle’s best known picture houses, the Tyneside Cinema, and a new major exhibition exploring the region’s sporting history. Find out more in the latest Page Turner newsletter.

Shields Road, circa 1900

We’ve also had our fair share of television crews visiting the section. We took part in an item that was broadcast on the local news on the eve of the Royal Wedding. You may have heard that the Duchess of Cambridge has Geordie roots and we’ve got the paperwork to prove it! Using parish registers and census records we were able to show that the Duchess had ancestors who originated from an area at the top of Shields Road – known then as Byker Hills. They were a mining family who moved from Newcastle to County Durham.

There was also a visit from the BBC’s ‘Who Do you Think You Are’ production team complete with a famous face who has local connections.  Filming in the heritage section took a full day and the celebrity was a great hit with the public and staff. We’ve been sworn to secrecy for the moment- but watch this space…

We are delighted that the History Club has been nominated as a finalist for the prestigious CILIP Libraries Change Lives Award alongside Newcastle Libraries’ NEALIS project. View videos and more information about the projects here. The winner will be announced at the CILIP Umbrella conference on 13 July 2011.

Newcastle City Libraries now subscribe to the Find My Past geneaology website. Members of the library can access both the Find My Past and Ancestry websites free of charge in any Newcastle Library. (Please note you must be accessing these links in one of our libraries to have full access to the searches.)

Kath Cassidy
Heritage Service Manager

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The CILIP Libraries Change Lives Award highlights and rewards good practice in any innovative library and information projects which change lives, bring people together and demonstrate creativity whilst developing staff and services.

We are pleased to announce that two projects we have been involved in have been nominated for the award!

The History Club

Our Tyneside started back in 2009 in partnership with Better Days, a charity working with adults with learning difficulties, the Sage in Gateshead and Newcastle Libraries. Initially lasting 12 weeks the weekly club aimed to educate and engage participants with their local heritage in a safe and friendly environment.

Taking part in a variety of activities (research, photography, creative writing, music and crafts) as well as guided tours and talks, the group grew in confidence, self esteem and enjoyed the sessions so much that they continued to meet every week. Newcastle Libraries launched The History Club in April 2010, open to any adult with learning difficulties. Topics have included ‘The Great Fire of Newcastle’, ‘Newcastle United’ and ‘The Ghosts of Newcastle’. The History Club has become a vital part of participants’ and staff’s lives, with 100% of participants reporting that they find it fun. View The History Club video below.

The NEALIS Project: North East Accessible Library and Information Services

The NEALIS Project has been working since November 2007 to improve library, information and reading services to blind and partially sighted people across North East England. Its focus has been on developing low cost, practical ways to improve library information and reading services to blind and partially sighted people. Training days for staff have been held and a VIP area with a specially adapted PC and screen has been created at Newcastle City Library. Young people on a local Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme have been paired with visually impaired people to act as reading buddies. View the NEALIS Project video below.

The winner will be announced at the CILIP Umbrella conference on 13 July 2011. Find out more about the Libraries Change Lives Award.

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Images by Lazlo Torday, a local photographer who took fantastic social photographs from the 60s and 70s, are currently on display on level 6 until early next week. The images are of people talking or socialising and many of them are unidentified so we asked visitors to City Library to help identify the views and people. We’ve had a wonderful response with many visitors offering ideas on location and indeed identifying the people in shot. Thanks very much to all who have contributed. To get involved online, view another set of images from our Tyneside Life and Times collection – if there are no titles and if there is nothing in the image description post a comment on Flickr so we can investigate. View images.

We’ll be launching a new exhibition at the end of July called ‘Played in Tyne and Wear: Exploring the North East’s Sporting Heritage’ which will be running until the end of October 2011.

We’ll also have a display of images of the artistic work of Byron Dawson where you can rediscover Newcastle of the 1920s and 1930s.  This is from 6 June on level 6. A new book about this artist has been recently published by Tyne Bridge Publishing called ‘Newcastle Between the Wars: Byron Dawson’s Tyneside’ which is available to buy from the City Library.

We’ve had a very successful Local History Month, both in City Library and across the branch libraries. Highlights have included a fantastic talk by Paul Joannou on the ‘History of Newcastle United Football Club’ and ‘A Bit of a Giggle’ with Viz writer Simon Donald and Geoff Laws.

We also took part in Newcastle Fashion Week and hosted a number of successful events in the City Library, including the ‘Newcastle Vintage Guide’ which was a fashoin show of outfits through the decades and ‘All Tied Up’ which explored corset making. Both events proved very popular and received great feedback.

Look out for information on our Heritage Open Day events in the summer.

Sarah Mulligan
Heritage team at City Library

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Newcastle vs. Burnley, St. James Park, 1938

This year Newcastle Libraries are hosting a packed programme of events to celebrate Local History Month this May including a talk on the history of Newcastle United by club historian Paul Joannou and exciting news from the Secret Bunker/North project which hopes to restore the grade II listed RAF Blakelaw World War 2 bunker.

We are hosting events both at City Library and across our branch libraries.

Download the Local History Month brochure for more information. Most events in the brochure are free of charge, unless otherwise stated.

We hope that you can take advantage of the wide variety of activities on offer this year.  If you’d like to find out more about your heritage come along and you’ll receive a warm welcome at all our events! Alternatively visit level 6 of the City Library where the Heritage team can explain the local  and family resources available.

Phone 0191 2774100 or email information@newcastle.gov.uk to reserve places for events with limited availability (unless alternative contact details are given in the brochure).

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Learn about the many hidden and little known features of the Byker Wall and estate in this talk by local historian Colin Dilks. The architect Ralph Erskine needed to consider our northern climate in his designs. This talk will look at what some of these issues were and then track down his solutions during a ‘virtual’ walk around the estate. We will also see other Erskine designs from around the world such as the housing estate above which is in Helsinki and shares some of the features of the Byker Wall.

Tuesday 22 March
6pm
East End Library

This event is free with light refreshments provided. Book your place by phoning 0191 2774100, emailing information@newcastle.gov.uk or asking at any branch library.

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In 1962, American pilot Gary Powers was released by his Russian captors in exchange for one of their own, Colonel William Fisher — a Geordie born in Clara Street, Benwell who moved to the Soviet Union in 1921 to pursue a career in espionage.

Author Vin Arthey has written a book about about Colonel William Fisher’s extraordinary true life tale that will leave you thrilled and mesmerised. Vin will visit City Library to talk about his fascinating book ‘The Kremlin’s Geordie Spy’.

Wednesday 23 March
6:30pm — 7:45pm
City Library

Book your free place in advance by phoning 0191 2774100, emailing information@newcastle.gov.uk or ask at any Newcastle Library.

Reserve a copy of ‘The Kremlin’s Geordie Spy’ online

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The Evolving English Exhibition and programme of events has been launched at City Library by the Lord Mayor. Children from Chillingham Road Primary School sang modern Geordie songs and we were visited by the local media. The Evolving English events are in partnership with the British Library and celebrate the dialect of the North East. Come in to City Library to record your accent in our special booth which will collect voices for the British Library archive.

Find out more about Evolving English

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From 18 – 26 February we are inviting the people of Newcastle to go on record and be part of history in a project, in partnership with the British Library, which will celebrate the North East’s language and dialect.

There will be a special evening event to launch the Evolving English campaign hosted by local writer Johnny Handle, Viz founder Simon Donald and comedian Billy Mitchell who will celebrate everything Geordie through dialect poetry and comedy.

Saturday 19 February
7pm – 10pm at City Library

Please note: strong language is likely and this event is suitable for those aged 18 or over. Proof of age may be requested on the night.

Tickets are £5 and include a complimentary glass of wine or soft drink. To book your ticket phone 0191 2774100 or email information@newcastle.gov.uk

If you can’t attend this event come to City Library and record your favourite Geordie words and phrases in a special booth which will take a sample of the region’s diverse accents for the British Library to archive! Or tell us your favourite word and be entered into a prize draw.

Find out more about Evolving English

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There’s so much to get involved in over the next few weeks! To book your free place at any of the sessions below phone 0191 2774100 or email information@newcastle.gov.uk.

Memory Bank

Explore your local area’s history with material from Local Studies.

Blakelaw Library
Tuesday 18 January, 10am – 12noon

Newbiggin Hall Library
Friday 11 February, 10am – 12noon

Online family history

Trace your family tree by using Ancestry.co.uk for free at any Newcastle Library.

City Library
Thursday 13 January, 10:30am – 1pm

Dinnington Library
Wednesday 19 January, 10am – 1pm

A beginners guide to researching a family tree

City Library
Thursday 20 January, 10:30am – 12noon

Touching the Past: Newcastle United

A talk on the history of Newcastle United and a chance to explore items on the club from the Local Studies collection.

City Library
Saturday 29 January, 2pm – 4pm

Taking Liberties: Parliament and the people

As part of the Taking Liberties in the North East exhibition, find out more about the fascinating history of parliament.

City Library
Friday 14 January, 1pm – 3pm
Monday 24 January, 1pm – 3pm

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The original copy of one of this country’s most important pieces of legislation will be the star exhibit at an exhibition at Newcastle City Library when it is launched later this month.

The Heritage Lottery funded exhibition, Taking Liberties in the North East, will feature the 1832 Representation of the People Act lent to the City from the Parliamentary Archives. This Act, which is commonly known as the Great Reform Act 1832, has strong links to the North East as it was proposed by prominent local politician and Prime Minister Earl Grey – of Grey’s Monument and Grey Street. It is rarely seen outside Parliament and has become the foundation stone which led to the introduction of wide ranging changes to the electoral system of England and Wales.

Taking Liberties, which is being presented in partnership with the British Library, will focus on the 900-year struggle for democracy in the United Kingdom, and will pay particular attention to the North East’s contribution to the fight for civil liberties and democracy. The exhibition will run for three months from 24 November 2010 to 30 January 2011.

The exhibition will include other rare and fascinating items from the British Library’s collection including a 17th century copy of Habeas Corpus, a rebellious tobacco paper, dated 1792, which was found under floorboards in a Kennington pub, plus a Jacobean Cockade from Culloden. Taking Liberties will also feature material from the special collections of Newcastle Libraries and a range of artefacts loaned by Tyne and Wear Museums.

All of these items will be available to view in the Newcastle Collection showcase area on the sixth floor of City Library.

As part of the exhibition visitors will be given an opportunity to see and hear the personal stories of those involved in the Taking Liberties project. This Heritage Lottery funded project has provided an opportunity for refugees and asylum seekers from a range of countries to find out more about the history of rights and civil liberties in Britain. Those involved have made a significant contribution to the exhibition and it will feature photography, poetry and short films.

Cllr Pauline Allen, Newcastle City Council’s Executive Member for Culture, Leisure and Customer Services said:  “While we enjoy many rights in this country the fight for civil liberties goes on in many parts of the world and Taking Liberties will give people the chance to learn from those who have faced persecution in their original home countries.”

She added:  “We are also proud to be featuring the 1832 Reform Act which has such a strong visible connection to this city through Earl Grey. We would like to thank the Parliamentary Archives for letting us have this precious piece of our history so that more people can learn about Grey and his personal fight to ensure our right to vote.”

If you would like to find out more about the history of parliamentary process- why not attend one of the ‘Parliament and the People’ sessions on Friday 14 January or Monday 24 January 2011 from 1pm to 3pm. Phone 0191 2774100 or email information@newcastle.gov.uk to book your free place.

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”What a shock ! This photo shows me, one child back from the camera, when I lived at #19, just opposite the road junction seen. That house was used for the local policeman (my dad)  I have had several happy hours browsing the places on your site which I knew as a child. Thank you for a memorable resource … Leabank was a child’s paradise in the winter. It was very steep, with a sharp bend at the bottom – ideal for all sorts of knee scraping activities when it snowed!! What speed you could achieve with an old tin tray!!”

This was emailed by Carol Farquhar who now lives in Chilliwack in British Columbia, Canada.

Why not take a look at the Tyneside Life and Times Collection and see if any of your memories can be brought to life?

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As part of  National Customer Service Week, Newcastle Libraries are launching a new designated area on level 3 of City Library to highlight the materials and resources available to help support our visually impaired (VIP) customers.

The area will include the following:

-A computer with a 22” screen which will have Supernova screen magnification software, a large keys keyboard and headphones.

-A new book and document magnifier will be available and staff will provide a demonstration of this.

-A new ‘Penfriend’ which will assist customers choosing library materials by communicating the item details.

-Large print newspapers will be available.

-Materials  will be displayed in a variety of formats, including spoken word, MP3, DVD with audio description and large print books.

-Samples of the Talking Newspaper will be available, supplied by Tyne Sound News, and there will be the option of joining the scheme.

Customers will be able to work independently or alongside staff on a one to one basis in the VIP area. Internet taster sessions are available on a range of subjects including family history and online shopping.

There will also be information regarding supportive organistions such as the RNIB and NHS Choices.  Magnifying sheets and bookmarks will be given out at the launch on 4 October and will continue to be on sale after the launch.

An event for visually impaired readers called Touching the Past is planned on 7 October from 1pm to 3pm to give an insight into the books and other historical resources held in the Heritage section. To book a place at this session phone 0191 2774100 or email information@newcastle.gov.uk.

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Come along to see and handle some fascinating items from Beamish Museum’s costume collection on:

Tuesday 12th October, 2pm – 3pm at Walker Library

Thursday 14th October, 2pm – 3pm at High Heaton Library

The glorious garments include everyday workwear and evening glamour. Drop in and enjoy a chat and some refreshments too. Everyone is welcome and there is no need to book.

For further details contact High Heaton Library on 0191 2774233 or email highheaton.library@newcastle.gov.uk. Or contact Walker Library on 0191 2784225 or email walker.library@newcastle.gov.uk.

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The talk will take place from 1pm to 3pm on Monday 18 October at West End Library. All are welcome and tea and coffee will be provided. For more information contact West End Library on 0191 2771500.

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Come along to this reminiscence event with the authors of the book Women’s Lives in the West End, published locally by the Riverside Community Health Project. Take this opportunity to share your memories and explore how women’s lives have changed using your own experiences. Some memories explored in the book include:

”And a trip used to go down to South Shields, and we used to spend a whole day, and there’s photographs all over the place of them all enjoying egg and spoon races on the beach, and them all plodging in the sea, and men in their suits (because men never went out without suit sand caps on their heads) all with their pants rolled up and plodging with their suits on.”

”Me mam used to make bread every day – fresh bread. She used to cook and put the stotties on the window sill outside. Never got pinched.”

”There was an air raid shelter in the back lane but nobody ever used it because it didn’t have a door on and then man used to use it for a toilet when they were coming out for work.”

The event takes place on Monday 13 September from 2pm – 4pm.

Places are limited so please book by phoning 0191 2774100 or email information@newcastle.gov.uk.

Copies of the book will be available.

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Come along to this talk and get a unique opportunity to explore some of the material held in the local studies collection relating to the Grainger Market including illustrations, directories and other reference material. There are two sessions at City Library, the first is on Monday 27 September from 2pm – 4pm and the second is on Tuesday 28 September from 2pm – 4pm.

The event is free but places must be booked by phoning 0191 2774100 or emailing information@newcastle.gov.uk.

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This September there will be the opportunity to step into the past and find out more about the history that has contributed to the vibrancy of the North East. As part of  the Tyne and Wear Heritage Open Days 2010 you can visit many historic buildings and take part in lots of activities – all for free!

Heritage Open Days are organised nationally by English Heritage and are the nation’s biggest free celebration of architecture, history and culture. This year the Tyne and Wear events are bigger and better! Throughout the region over 200 buildings, tours and talks have already confirmed that they are taking part.

Newcastle Libraries are hosting the following events:

Beginners guide to researching your family tree
Thursday 9 September, City Library
10:30am – 12noon
If you’ve always wanted to research your family tree, but didn’t know where to begin, then this session is for you.  An absolute beginners guide to piecing together your family history.

Touching the past: exploring the Theatre Royal archive
Thursday 9 September, City Library
2pm – 3pm
Take this opportunity to look at the fascinating material from the Theatre Royal Archive at the City Library including programs, playbills and images depicting the history of the building.

Ancestry.com internet taster session
Saturday 11 September
10am – 11:15am
An introduction to tracing your family tree online in the ICT suite of City Library.

Children at War!
Saturday 11 September
2pm – 3:30pm
It’s 1939 and Britain is at war with Germany.  It is a terrifying time for children – will you survive the mass bombing of Newcastle and Tyneside?  Will you and your family have enough to eat as the German submarine blockade tightens?  Can you bear to be separated from your family as children are evacuated to safer places in the countryside? Experience the North East at war in this interactive session for children.

To book for any of these free events please phone 0191 2774100 or email information@newcastle.gov.uk.

The Tyne and Wear Heritage Open Day website gives details of all the participating buildings, tours and talks throughout Tyne and Wear. For events nationally please see the English Heritage website.

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Join Neil Tonge, co-author of Terrible Tudors in the Horrible History Series for a fascinating talk on the streets of Tudor Newcastle on Friday 30 July at 2pm – 3pm on level 2 of the City Library.  Suitable for ages 8-12.

Dare you walk the streets of Tudor Newcastle? Take care for death and disease are following you ready to strike.  Watch where you put your feet for there’s pools of slime and even worse.  Don’t look up or you might get the contents of a chamber pot on your head!  But if that gets too much for you why not go along to a hanging for a bit of relaxation.

To book your free place phone 0191 2774100, email information@newcastle.gov.uk or ask a member of staff at any library.

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Join us for a hilarious trip down Geordie memory lane with ‘Florrie’  – there will be jokes, songs, stories and memorabilia from Newcastle’s Golden Age. Local historian Yvonne Young, who will be performing as ‘Florrie’ for a nostalgic afternoon on Friday 9 July from 2 – 3pm at Fenham Library.

Open to all adults with a fondness for reminiscing! To book your free place phone 0191 2774100, email information@newcastle.gov.uk or visit any Newcastle library.

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Local historian and creative writer Keith Armstrong will give a fascinating insight into the life and work of Thomas Spence (1750 – 1814), the pamphleteer, poet and noted pioneer of people’s rights. Spence was born on Newcastle’s Quayside in the most turbulent of times and was a leading revolutionary in his day. The talk takes place on Monday 28 June from 2pm–3pm on the sixth floor of City Library.

The talk is free but tickets must be booked in advance by phoning 0191 2774100 or emailing information@newcastle.gov.uk

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